Title: Paranormal Activity
Director: Oren Peli
Year: 2007
Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat
Genre: Horror
Certificate: 15
Rating: ****
Whilst watching this film you must first bear in mind the tiny budget and mainly improvised dailogue, as well as two actors who have never had any experience beforehand. Well, I say 'bear in mind', but actually, you simply forget that, as the film is completely believeable, regardless of the paranormal side of it. Whenever the two main characters put their camera on the tripod in order to go to sleep, your pulse rate immediately accelerates, as you are aware that this is when the freaky stuff happens. And by God is it freaky. Even the mild scares at the beginning are enough to make you understand just how terrifying this film will become. It is definitely a must-see for those who are Grudge fans, and even just those who love ghosts. Or even just anyone searching for a good scare.
Although it was filmed using a hand-held camera, in a 'found footage' style, the cinematography is still extremely interesting, and it simply serves to make you feel like you are actually experiencing what the characters are going through.
Definitely a shocker.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Kick-Ass (2010)
Title: Kick-Ass
Year: 2010
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Mortez, Mark Strong, Nicholas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca
Age certificate: 15
Rating: *****
This absolutely stunning superhero film is up there with my all-time favourite, the Lord of the Rings. But, before you expect elves and orcs to show up, it's a favourite for a completely different reason, and of course, set in modern-day New York.
The hilarity, the gore, and the sheer brilliance of this film is complimented by the breathtaking cinematography and acting (especially by Chloe Mortez, who was only eleven at the time of shooting, performing many of her own stunts and using taboo to the extremeties).
My advice is to stop your knitting, and go out to the cinema and WATCH IT RIGHT NOW.
Year: 2010
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Mortez, Mark Strong, Nicholas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca
Age certificate: 15
Rating: *****
This absolutely stunning superhero film is up there with my all-time favourite, the Lord of the Rings. But, before you expect elves and orcs to show up, it's a favourite for a completely different reason, and of course, set in modern-day New York.
The hilarity, the gore, and the sheer brilliance of this film is complimented by the breathtaking cinematography and acting (especially by Chloe Mortez, who was only eleven at the time of shooting, performing many of her own stunts and using taboo to the extremeties).
My advice is to stop your knitting, and go out to the cinema and WATCH IT RIGHT NOW.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
District 9 (2009)
Title: District 9
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James
Genre: Science-fiction thriller
Certificate: 15
Rating: ****
Apart from a rather slow start, this film proved to definitely be worthwhile watching. The special effects were absolutely stunning for such a low-budget film, whilst the acting was brilliant, along with the screenplay. There was the exact right amount of gore, and in places, some of the actions of all the characters were appalling.
This is by no means one of the best films ever made, but it is definitely worth watching, and enjoying.
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James
Genre: Science-fiction thriller
Certificate: 15
Rating: ****
Apart from a rather slow start, this film proved to definitely be worthwhile watching. The special effects were absolutely stunning for such a low-budget film, whilst the acting was brilliant, along with the screenplay. There was the exact right amount of gore, and in places, some of the actions of all the characters were appalling.
This is by no means one of the best films ever made, but it is definitely worth watching, and enjoying.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Title: Inglourious Basterds
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: War/black comedy
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent
Certificate: 18
Rating: *****
This is an outstanding film. Tarantino again proves that he is one of the finest directors in the history of film. Brad Pitt portrays his character BRILLIANTLY, and the mixture between French, German, and English works extremely well.
One of the things I respect and admire most about Tarantino's work is the way the scenes just play out, in so much more of a realistic way: each scene is long, yet they never become boring. Every little attention to detail is there - the actors are cast perfectly and seem to have the crucial understanding of their characters. Not to mention that this film is HILARIOUS.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: War/black comedy
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent
Certificate: 18
Rating: *****
This is an outstanding film. Tarantino again proves that he is one of the finest directors in the history of film. Brad Pitt portrays his character BRILLIANTLY, and the mixture between French, German, and English works extremely well.
One of the things I respect and admire most about Tarantino's work is the way the scenes just play out, in so much more of a realistic way: each scene is long, yet they never become boring. Every little attention to detail is there - the actors are cast perfectly and seem to have the crucial understanding of their characters. Not to mention that this film is HILARIOUS.
Death Proof (2007)
Title: Death Proof
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: Action
Starring: Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rose McGowan.
Age certificate: 18
Rating: ***
This has got to be one of the most pointless films ever made. For the majority of the time it is on, nothing is happening, then suddenly, a load of action takes place. Although the visuals are stunning, and Tarantino does, as always, a brilliant job, it is still nowhere near his best work, and is actually pretty boring most of the time.
What redeems this film are the brilliant fight/death scenes, at the middle, and right at the end.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: Action
Starring: Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rose McGowan.
Age certificate: 18
Rating: ***
This has got to be one of the most pointless films ever made. For the majority of the time it is on, nothing is happening, then suddenly, a load of action takes place. Although the visuals are stunning, and Tarantino does, as always, a brilliant job, it is still nowhere near his best work, and is actually pretty boring most of the time.
What redeems this film are the brilliant fight/death scenes, at the middle, and right at the end.
Monday, 2 November 2009
All the Real Girls (2003)
Title: All the Real Girls
Year: 2003
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Shea Whigham, Patricia Clarkson
Genre: Romantic drama
Certificate: 15
Rating: **
I decided to watch this film after seeing Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer, and, fancying a romance, this seemed like the film to watch.
Although the plot (and script) of the film is interesting, the way in which it is presented just does not work. I hasten to add that the second-half of the film is much better than the first, however it seems like some scenes are only put in there to make the films seem more beautiful, and have nothing to do with driving the plot forwards. The characters are hard to understand, and, although probably a more realistic take on love than a lot of films, they tend to be slightly boring.
I'm not saying the whole film is bad - the second half, and the acting, is good, it's just the way the film is that makes it not work.
Year: 2003
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Shea Whigham, Patricia Clarkson
Genre: Romantic drama
Certificate: 15
Rating: **
I decided to watch this film after seeing Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer, and, fancying a romance, this seemed like the film to watch.
Although the plot (and script) of the film is interesting, the way in which it is presented just does not work. I hasten to add that the second-half of the film is much better than the first, however it seems like some scenes are only put in there to make the films seem more beautiful, and have nothing to do with driving the plot forwards. The characters are hard to understand, and, although probably a more realistic take on love than a lot of films, they tend to be slightly boring.
I'm not saying the whole film is bad - the second half, and the acting, is good, it's just the way the film is that makes it not work.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
(500) Days Of Summer
Title: (500) Days of Summer
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Genre: romantic comedy
Year: 2009
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****
This film is a completely original, brilliant thing. It is told in a non-linear sequence, leaving the viewer piecing together their version of what has happened during events, and then either being proven correct, or incorrect. Also, the comedic side of it is actually funny, whenever it is meant to be, something rarely seen in recent comedies.
Not only is it funny, but it is also a moving and slightly upsetting film, due to it not exactly being about falling in love, more about falling OUT of it, and taking chances. Although the main characters have a very sweet relationship, it obviously will not work out as she is not quite into it enough. Another interesting thing about this film is that it is the girl who doesn't believe in love, whilst the man is a hopeless romantic, which is a pleasant change from the norm. One last interesting point is that the director obviously was not afraid to try something different, due to one scene in which he splits the screen in half, one side being how the protagonist is imagining things to go, the other side in which they actually do go. This scene is slightly out of sync, until the same things happen in both, which makes it less confusing.
This film is, definitely, a new favourite.
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
Genre: romantic comedy
Year: 2009
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****
This film is a completely original, brilliant thing. It is told in a non-linear sequence, leaving the viewer piecing together their version of what has happened during events, and then either being proven correct, or incorrect. Also, the comedic side of it is actually funny, whenever it is meant to be, something rarely seen in recent comedies.
Not only is it funny, but it is also a moving and slightly upsetting film, due to it not exactly being about falling in love, more about falling OUT of it, and taking chances. Although the main characters have a very sweet relationship, it obviously will not work out as she is not quite into it enough. Another interesting thing about this film is that it is the girl who doesn't believe in love, whilst the man is a hopeless romantic, which is a pleasant change from the norm. One last interesting point is that the director obviously was not afraid to try something different, due to one scene in which he splits the screen in half, one side being how the protagonist is imagining things to go, the other side in which they actually do go. This scene is slightly out of sync, until the same things happen in both, which makes it less confusing.
This film is, definitely, a new favourite.
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